Atlanta

Midtown

The High Museum, Piedmont Park, the Fox Theatre, and a MARTA rail station are all within walking distance. The most self-contained neighborhood for a visitor who wants to do a lot without a car.

Old Fourth Ward / Inman Park

The BeltLine's Eastside Trail and Ponce City Market are both here, which makes it the most walkable food-and-activity corridor in Atlanta. Hotels are cheaper than Midtown and the dining options are better.

Buckhead

Michelin-starred Atlas, luxury hotels, and designer shopping in a quieter, greener setting north of downtown. Requires a car or rideshare for most everything.

📍 Old Fourth Ward

James Beard Best New Restaurant finalist. The Friday-Saturday-only tasting menu uses hyper-seasonal Georgia and regional ingredients. A portion of profits funds The Giving Kitchen, which supports restaurant workers in crisis.

📍 Buckhead (St. Regis)

Atlanta's most consistently Michelin-starred restaurant. Chef Freddy Money's à la carte menu offers lobster with smoked paprika butter, Australian Wagyu, and a cheese cart, in a room hung with a serious art collection.

📍 Westside / MLK Drive

Open since 1947, Michelin-listed. The fried chicken is exceptionally crispy-skinned and juicy inside. Mac and cheese and collard greens are equally serious. Order online before you go.

📍 Castleberry Hill

The Civil Rights Movement's unofficial commissary since 1947. MLK, John Lewis, and Jesse Jackson strategized over the fried chicken and peach cobbler here. The history is as much a reason to go as the food.

📍 Old Fourth Ward

The repurposed 1926 Sears building on the BeltLine houses some of Atlanta's most useful casual spots under one roof: H+F Burger, Sean Brock's Minero, and Ton Ton ramen. Good for a group with different appetites.

A paved 2.25-mile multi-use trail connecting Inman Park to Old Fourth Ward through a corridor of murals, pocket parks, and pop-up vendors. The organizing infrastructure of Atlanta's best casual restaurants.

The only aquarium in the US with whale sharks. The 6.3-million-gallon Ocean Voyager tank has an underwater tunnel where four whale sharks and thousands of other fish pass overhead. Plan 3–4 hours minimum.

The Southeast's most significant art museum: 11,000+ works including strong collections of 19th-century American art, Sub-Saharan African objects, and photography. The Richard Meier building is itself worth seeing.

Built for the 1996 Olympics, a short walk from Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Atlanta's official FIFA World Cup Fan Festival will be held here during the tournament.

An 18-hole rooftop mini golf course with carnival games, cocktails, and a laser light show at night above the BeltLine. One of the better low-key evening options in the city.